Sammamish's SMC 8.15.020 makes frequent, repetitive, or continuous engine noise from starting, operating, repairing, or testing motor vehicles a public nuisance, along with repeated horn or siren sounding and vehicle audio audible beyond 75 feet. On public highways, Washington state law controls: RCW 46.37.390 requires working mufflers and bans amplified exhaust, and WAC 173-62 sets dBA limits.
Vehicle noise in Sammamish is split between local nuisance rules and state motor-vehicle law. Under SMC 8.15.020 (Ordinance O2002-105), the listed public nuisances include "frequent, repetitive or continuous noise in connection with the starting, operation, repair, rebuilding or testing of any motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle or internal combustion engine so as to unreasonably disturb or interfere with the peace, comfort and repose" of nearby property owners (this provision does not apply to airplanes and boats); "frequent, repetitive or continuous sounding of any horn or siren attached to a motor vehicle, except as a warning of danger"; and vehicle public-address or audio systems audible greater than 75 feet from the source. These address noise originating on or near property rather than vehicles in normal travel. For vehicles operated on public highways, Washington state law governs: RCW 46.37.390 requires every motor vehicle to have a muffler in good working order and prohibits modifying an exhaust system to amplify or increase noise above the original muffler. The Department of Ecology's motor-vehicle noise rules in Chapter 173-62 WAC set maximum permissible sound levels measured at 50 feet (for example, 72 dBA below 45 mph and 78 dBA at 45 mph or above for lighter vehicles). The King County Sheriff enforces both the city nuisance code and state traffic-noise law in Sammamish.
Repeatedly revving, testing, or repairing a vehicle so as to disturb neighbors, or repeatedly sounding a horn, is a public nuisance under SMC 8.15.020 (civil fine up to $250 first, up to $1,000 for repeats within 12 months). A loud or modified exhaust on a vehicle in use on a highway violates RCW 46.37.390, and exceeding the WAC 173-62 dBA limits is a state traffic-noise violation.
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See how Sammamish's vehicle noise rules stack up against other locations.
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